Cross-section of ray of Asterias 
aurantincus. 
a, a, ambiilacral or vertebral os- 
sicles ; b, adambulacral ; c , c , margi- 
nal ossicles ; d, paxiltae upon antam- 
bulacral surface. 
asteriated 
starry, + -ate' 2 + -cd".] Exhibiting the prop- 
erty of asterism: as, asteriated sapphire. See 
attti'rism, 4. 
asterid (as'te-rid), n. [< Asterida;.] A starfish; 
a member of the genus Asterias, or family As- 
teriida', or some other division of the order As- 
teroidea. Also called asteridan and asteridian. 
Asterida (as-ter'i-dil), x.pl. [NL., < Asterias, 1, 
+ -ida.] In Gegeiibaur's system of classifica- 
tion, an order of the class Asteroida, including 
the typical starfishes. 
Asteridae (as-ter'i-de), n.pl. [NL.,<Agteriai, 1 , 
+ -ida:] 1. Same as Asteriida;. 2. Some su- 
perfamily group of starfishes, more or less ex- 
actly equivalent to Asteroidea (which see). 
asteridan (as-ter'i-dan), n. Same as asterid. 
Asteridea(as-te-rid'f-a),M.pZ. [NL.,< Asterias, 
1, + -idea.] A superfamily group of starfishes, 
(a) More or less nearly the same as an order Aitteroidea, 
distinguishing the starfishes collectively from other echi- 
noderms. (b) More or less nearly the same as a class 
Asteroidea or Stellerida, distinguishing the starfishes and 
sand-stars (ophiurians) together from other echinoderms. 
asteridian (as-te-rid'i-an), n. and . [< asterid 
+ -MM.] I. n. Same as asterid. 
II. n. Of or pertaining to the Asteriida;. 
The asteridian affinities of the class [Brachiopoda] have 
been hinted at by King. Encyc. Brit., IV. 188. 
asteriid (as-te'ri-id), n. A starfish of the fam- 
ily Asteriida;. 
Asteriidae (as-te-ri'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < Aste- 
rias, 1, + -ida;. ]' A family of echinoderms, of 
the order Asteroidea, 
the starfishes, class 
Asteroidea or Stelle- 
rida, represented by 
such genera as As- 
terias or Astropecten 
and Lnidia, having 
four rows of pedi- 
cellate feet in each 
ray. Also Asterida;, 
and, less correctly, 
Asteriada: 
Asterina (as-te-ri'- 
na), n. [NL., <! Gr. 
a star, + -ina.] 
The typical 
starfishes of the family Asterinida;. 
is the gibbous starlet. 
Aiterina is a large genus, almost world-wide in its dis- 
tribution. The skeleton is formed of imbricated or over- 
lapping and notched ossicula. Stand. Nat. Hint., I. 159. 
asterinid (as-ter'i-nid), n. A starlet of the fam- 
ily Asterinida;. 
Asterinidae (as-te-rin'i-de), n. pi. [NL., < As- 
terina + -ida;.] A family of starfishes, contain- 
ing the starlets of the genera Asterina, Asteris- 
cus, Goniastcr, etc. 
asterion (as-te'ri-on), n. [NL.,< Gr. aarepiof, 
neut. aarepiov, starry, starlike, < aarr/p, a star.] 
In anat., the point where the lambdoid, parie- 
tomastoid, and occipitomastoid sutures of the 
skull meet. 
Asteriscus (as-te-ris'kus), . [NL., < Gr. <ZOTE- 
piaKof, a little star: see asterisk.] 1. A genus 
of starfishes, of the family Asterinida;: synony- 
mous with Palmipes. The species are known 
as sea-stars. 2. \l. c.] An otolith lodged, in 
most fishes, in a diverticulum of the vestibule, 
beneath the ampulla of the posterior canal, 
asterisk (as'te-risk), w. [< LL. astcriscus, < Gr. 
aarepiaKOf, a little star, an asterisk, used in 
manuscripts to mark passages, dim. of aarrip, a 
star: see aster 1 .] 1. The figure of a star (*), 
used in printing and writing (a) as a reference 
to a passage or note in the margiji; (6) to dis- 
tinguish words or phrases as conjectural, theo- 
retical, unverified, obscure, or as having some 
other specified character ; (c) to mark the omis- 
sion of words or letters ; and (d) arbitrarily, as a 
mark of classification. 2. Something in the 
shape of or resembling an asterisk. 
The lanthorn is in the centre of an asterisk of glades, 
cut through the wood of all the country round, four or 
five in a quarter. Roger North, Lord Guilford, I. 258. 
3. In the Gr. Ch., a frame consisting of two 
arches of metal, crossing each other at right 
angles, placed on the paten 
and over the prepared bread 
of the eucharist to prevent 
contact with the covering 
veil. 
The asterisk . . . folds and un- 
folds for the purpose of being more 
conveniently put away. Its use is 
Asterisk. to prevent the veil of the disk from 
disarranging the order of the por- 
tions ; its mystical meaning ... is the star which led the 
Wise Men to the Infant Saviour. 
J. M. Neale, Eastern Church, i. 350, note. 
354 
asterism (as'te-rizm), n. [< Gr. armpia/i6f, a 
marking with stars, a constellation, < aarepit^eiv, 
mark with stars, < aarf/p, a star, = E. star.'] 1. 
A group of stars : formerly equivalent to con- 
stellation, but now appropriated to any small 
cluster of stars, whether a part of a constella- 
tion or not. 
All set in number and in perfect form, 
Even like the Asterwmx flx'd in heaven. 
Chapman, Blind Beggar. 
Any one who studies the heavens will recognize the fact 
that the larger constellations have been robbed of their 
just proportions to form the smaller asteriionx. 
R. A. Proctor, Light Science, p. 335. 
2. An asterisk, or mark of reference. [Rare.] 
3. Three asterisks placed thus, %*, or thus, 
*, , before a passage, to direct attention to it. 
4. An optical property exhibited by some 
crystallized minerals which show a star-shaped 
luminous figure when viewed by reflected light, 
as the asteriated sapphire, or by transmitted 
light, as some kinds of phlogopite. in the former 
case it is due to certain peculiarities of internal structure, 
in the latter to the inclusion of symmetrically arranged 
acicular crystals. 
astern (a-stern'), prep. phr. as adv. or a. [< 
a 3 + stern 2 .] 1. At or toward the hinder part 
of a ship: as, to go astern. 2. Behind, at any 
indefinite distance: as, the ship was far astern 
of us. 
Captain Terry . . . put off in his boat at sunset for his 
ship, which was now six or eight miles astern. 
R. H. Dana, Jr., Before the Mast, p. 36. 
3. In the direction of the stern; backward; 
back; to the rear: said of a ship: as, the cur- 
rent drove us far astern TO back astern, to move 
stern foremost ; go astern : said of a ship. To be astern 
Of the reckoning, to be behind the position given for a 
vessel by the reckoning. To fall astern. See fall. 
asternal (a-ster'nal), a. [< Gr. a- priv. + 
artpvav, sternum.] 1. Having no sternum or 
breast-bone, as a serpent. [Rare.] 2. Not 
reaching to or connected with the sternum : as, 
asternal ribs, that is, floating ribs, ribs which 
do not articulate with the breast-bone. 
Asterodactylidse (as'te-ro-dak-tiri-de), n. pi. 
[NL., < Asterodactylus '+ -ida;.] A family of 
salient amphibians: synonymous with Fipidai 
(which see). Also Asterodactyloida; and Astro- 
dactylidai. 
Asterodactylus (as''te-ro-dak'ti-lus), n. [NL., 
< Gr. aarf/p, a star, + <)oKn>Aof, finger.] A genus 
of salient amphibians : synonymous with Pipa 
(which see). 
asteroid (as'te-roid), a. and n. [< Gr. aaTcpoeidfa, 
star-like, < aorl/p, a star, + cMof, form.] I. a. 1. 
Star-like. 2. Having a flower like that of an 
aster. 
II. w.l. One of the small planets, 280 or more 
in number, between the orbits of Mars and Ju- 
piter: more accurately called planetoids. See 
planetoid. 2. One of the Asteroidea; a star- 
fish, in a wide sense. 
Asteroida (as-te-roi'da), n.pl. [NL., < Gr. aare- 
potidr/f, star-like : see asteroid."] 1. In Gegen- 
baur's system of classification, a class of echi- 
noderms, the sea-stars or starfishes, consisting 
of the orders Asterida, Srisinaida, Ophiurida, 
and Euryalida. 2. Same as Aleyonaria. 
asteroidal (as-te-roi'dal), a. [< asteroid (or 
Asteroida) + -al.] 1'.' Resembling a star. 
2. Pertaining to the asteroids. 3. Pertain- 
ing to the starfishes. 4. Same as alcyonarian. 
Asteroidea (as-te-roi'de-a), n.pl. [NL., < Gr. 
acrrepoeidfa, star-like: see asteroid.] 1. An 
order of echinoderms, the starfishes: so call- 
ed from their star-like form. They have a more or 
asthma 
terinidw, Goniasteridce, Linfkiidfp, and Asteriidae, or the 
starfishes proper as distinguished from the sand-stars and 
other echinoderms of the class Stellerida (which see). 
They have a coriaceous skin, in which arc implanted spines 
or tubercles. The body is expanded into arms, the under 
surface of which is marked with grooves, radiating from 
the center, and pierced with rows of holes, whence issue 
tentacular feet, by means of which the animals move. 
Most have 5 arms or rays, but some have more, varying 
from 8 to 30. They have the power of reproducing these 
arms if they are broken off ; and if an entire arm, with a 
small portion of tiie body attached to it, is torn oil', it f< THIS 
a new and perfect animal. The mouth is in the inferior 
center of the rays, is not provided with teeth, and leads 
by a short gullet into a large stomach, from which a pair 
of lateral tubes are prolonged into each ray. A distinct 
intestine and anus may or may not be present. The ani- 
mals feed chiefly on mollusks. 
2. A class of echinpderms, containing the 
sand-stars or ophiurians together with the 
starfishes, and more or less exactly equivalent 
to Stellerida (which see). 3. Same as Aley- 
onaria. 
Asterolepis (as-te-rol'e-pis), n. [NL., < Gr. 
aarrip, a star, + 
p, a scale.] 
A genus of gi- 
gantic primi- 
tive fishes, now 
found only in a 
fossil state in 
the Old Red 
Sandstone. 
From their re- 
mains it would 
seem that these 
fishes must some- 
times have at 
I, hyoid plate of Asteroltpis, T-oth natural 
tained the length S t e u V a ?' si i z n '' :rnal ridge ' h! "> id platc ' 1-4th 
of 18 or 20 feet. 
One of 
tral and dorsal sides of anterior end of body ; d, d , ciliated bands ; 
h, c<ecal diverticulum, forming rudiment of the ambulacra! system, 
less lobed or pentagonal disk ; lohes continuous with the 
disk, receiving prolongations of the viscera, and bearing 
tube-feet with suckers, us locomotory organs ; and an 
aboral madreporic body. The group includes several 
families, as Brittingidce, Pterasteridce, Astropectinidce, As- 
r 20 feet. 
asterophrydid (as"te-rof'ri-did), 11. 
the Asterophrydida:. 
Asterophrydidse (as"te-ro-frid'i-de), n. pi. 
[NL., < AsteropJirys + -ida:.] A family of ar- 
ciferous salient amphibians with maxillary 
teeth, dilated sacral diapophyses (the coccyx 
being connected with one or two condyles or 
sacral vertebrae), and opisthocoelian vertebra. 
It is a small group of toad-like animals. 
Asterophrys (as-te-rof'ris), n. [NL., < Gr. 
aarr/p, a star, + o^/rof, eyebrow : see l>row.~\ 
A genus of arciferous amphibians of New 
Guinea, typical of the family Asterophrydida;. 
asterophyllite (as"te-ro-firit), n. [< NL. 
Asterophyllites.] A member of the genus Astc- 
rophyllites. 
Asterophyllites (as"te-ro-fi-li'tez), . [NL., 
< Gr. aorfjp, a star, + fGMav, a leaf, + /U'flor, 
a stone.] A genus of fossil plants; star-leaf: 
so called from the stellated disposition of the 
leaves around the branches. They abound in the 
coal-measures, and are believed to be the branches of the 
Catamite* or Calamodendron. 
astertt. r. See astart. 
asthenia (as-the-m'a), n. [NL., < Gr. aaBeveta, 
weakness, < aaOcv>K, 'without strength, < a-priv. 
+ oOtvoc,, strength.] 1. In pathol., debility; 
want of strength. Also astheny. 2. [cap.] In 
eool., a genus of insects, 
asthenia (as-then'ik), a. [< Gr. aofewoY, weak, 
< aatifirff : see asthenia.] Of the nature of as- 
thenia ; characterized by or suffering from as- 
thenia or debility ; weak. 
asthenologyt (as-the-nol'o-ji), n. [< Gr. aaflt- 
i'f/(, weak (see asthenia), + -MYla, < Myeiv, speak : 
see -ology.] The doctrine of diseases connected 
with debility. 
asthenopia (as-the-no'pi-a), n. [NL., < Gr. aadf- 
vf/s, weak (see asthenia), +"uil/ (UK-), eye.] Weak- 
ness of the eyes. Two forms are especially important : 
(a) accommadatiix asthenopia, which is the result of the ex- 
haustion of the ciliary muscle, as in hypermetropia ; and 
(6) muscular asthenopia, which is the result of some ex- 
haustion of the external muscles of the eye, usually the 
internal rectus. 
asthenopic (as-the-npp'ik), a. Pertaining to, 
resembling, or suffering from asthenopia. 
For reading, the manifest hypermetropia should be cor- 
rected, the strength of the glasses being increased as often 
as asthenopic symptoms reappear. 
Eitcyc. Brit., XVII. 785. 
Asthemirus (as-the-nu'rus), . [NL., < Gr. 
aodev/K, weak (see asthenia), + ovpa, tail.] 1. 
In ornith., a genus of woodpeckers: synony- 
mous with Ficmnnus. Swainson, 1827. 2. In 
ichth., a genus of fishes. 
astheny (as'the-ni), n. Same as asthenia, 1. 
asthma (ast'ma or as'ma), n. [Early mod. E. 
also astma, astria, < ME. dsma, asmy, < ML. asma, 
asthma,^ Gr. ao%a, asthma, panting/ affiv, also 
adfriv, aidffiv, breathe hard, pant, < afrnai ("Farj- 
vai), breathe, blow, = Goth, waiaii = AS. tcawan 
= OHG. wajan, MHG. wayen, G. weheti = Skt. 
V fa, blow. From the same root, in Gr., come 
